Choose your vacuum carefully before you buy

Choosing a New Vacuum Cleaner

by Debra Karplus

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You've owned your current vacuum cleaner for more years that you can remember and maybe it's falling apart. Maybe it's a wheel that continues to fall off or a hose that keeps coming loose. It might be noisier than it used to be, indicating a possible motor problem. Or perhaps it doesn't have the oomph for cleaning that it had when you first bought it, and the carpets just aren't getting clean enough after vacuuming them. Could it be time to purchase a new vacuum cleaner?

Will your vacuum cleaner outlive you?

Before you replace your current model with the newer version of the same machine, you probably want to assess your current needs. Many of the higher end vacuums are expected to last thirty years or more. That sounds great and, in fact, that claim may be realistic, but the real question is whether you will still be vacuuming thirty years from now! So the less expensive vacuum cleaner with the warranty covering fewer years might ultimately offer you the best bang for the buck, especially if you don't expect to be living in your same house forever.

Where will your vacuum be used?

Do an in-house study to determine what you need before you head out to the discount warehouse or big box store or shop online. Will you be vacuuming carpeting or floors or both? Do you have stairs? Are they carpeted? And how thick is the carpeting? Learn whether you are smart to choose an upright model (usually cheaper) versus a canister.

Canister or upright? Which is best for your home?

Canister models can do more and can be used with a myriad of handy dandy tools, which do nearly everything from vacuuming your drapes to vacuuming your shedding pet. But many of the upright models have hose attachments that can implement the use of these same tools and attachments and can be purchased at your nearby discount store for much less money (about $60).

Do you frequently need to vacuum your car or clean the dusty area around your fireplace? For less than $40, you could purchase a small, portable vacuum in addition to one for general use around the interior of your home. Consider this option when shopping for a vacuum cleaner.

The other issue to consider is the weight of the vacuum cleaner and your ability to move it around. If it is cumbersome or just too heavy, despite all the wonderful features and things it can do to make your house look spick and span, you may want to consider something different.

There are some other features to consider when selecting a vacuum cleaner.

Gone are the days of buying vacuum cleaner bags and making certain to get the correct size and style to fit your particular vacuum cleaner. Though they only cost about a dollar a bag, they add up over the years. These days, there are numerous excellent vacuum cleaners at great prices that are bagless. It is a feature that you will embrace in short time.

Today, vacuum cleaners come with the option of a HEPA filter for households with people who have various allergies. The price differential is relatively small compared to regular vacuum cleaners. It is likely worth it to buy a new vacuum cleaner with this feature. Read more about these vacuum cleaners online.

Stick vacuum cleaners are wonderfully lightweight and function more like the electric brooms of the 1960s that people used to keep their kitchens clean. Wet-dry vacs are wonderful for the garage, basement, or outdoor living space, but are not a replacement for a good, solid indoor canister or upright vacuum cleaner. Know the differences.

Buying your vacuum cleaner online may not be so smart.

Shopping online is fun and easy and often the prices are lower than in-store prices. The five-star rating system and customer reviews are extraordinarily helpful to consumers. Be sure to read the one-star customer reviews to see what others have discovered as flaws in different vacuum cleaners. You'll find that process helpful in narrowing down your choice to a few select models. But you are smart to actually purchase your vacuum cleaner in a real brick and mortar store where you can see it, lift it, move it around, and carefully scrutinize its features.

As you would with any household purchase that you expect to last a few years, take your time and ask family and friends what they have and if they are happy with it? Talk to the people who work at the store where you expect to purchase your vacuum cleaner and arrive prepared with questions. The right vacuum cleaner will serve you well for many years.

Debra is an occupational therapist, accountant, teacher and freelance writer. She is a writer for Advance for Occupational Therapy Practitioners. She also writes for Grand Magazine, has some items (fiction and non fiction)
selling on Amazon.com (kindle) and has written several articles for freelancewriting.com. Learn more about her at DebraKarplus.blogspot.com.

"The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation. This article may contain affiliate links. If you click on one of the affiliate links, The Dollar Stretcher could be compensated.